Closures, delays, fender-benders accompany snow storm

As snow accumulated on city streets overnight, 162 traffic accidents occurred in Lubbock, according to police reports.

Most were probably weather-related, and most occurred by 2:45 a.m., said Lubbock Police Department spokesman Bill Morgan.

"I'm shocked," Morgan said. "Between 6 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. we had only two traffic wrecks, one at 6:41 a.m. and one at 7:06.

"The cancellation of school may very well have played a role in diminishing the number of crashes."

Because of a winter storm that dropped between 3.8 to 4 inches of snow on Lubbock and the area, the Lubbock Independent School District closed all 52 of its campuses today, said Wayne Havens, district deputy superintendent.

"We'll have to look at conditions tomorrow," Havens said. "We may have delayed openings but I anticipate reopening (Thursday)."

Overnight, Lubbock's first winter storm created treacherous road conditions on Loop 289 and Interstate 27 as well as some city streets.

The Texas Department of Transportation began salting overpasses on Loop 289 and I-27 yesterday afternoon, said spokeswoman Penny Mason.

"We put out about 113 tons of salt as of yesterday, and we have seven trucks operating right now," Mason said. "We have been plowing so the roads are passable. But we would like drivers to take responsibility for their driving and slow down.

"There's probably a layer of ice underneath that snow and tonight, when we get more moisture and it freezes over, it's going to be even more difficult to drive on," she said.

The department recommends that people stay off the roads if possible, she said.

"If you have to drive, be very, very careful," Mason said. "With the critically cold temperatures tonight, that will make the roads more precarious, so if you can stay in, that would be the best thing to do."

The National Weather Service was forecasting more snow through the morning, said meteorologist Robert Barritt.

"We're still going to have mainly light snow this morning, which will taper off to flurries later this afternoon," Barritt said. "We may get an additional inch of snow before it's done."

The upper-level storm system was located above El Paso at about 9 a.m., and was traveling "pretty much due east," he said.

"I think the heaviest snow so far has been down around the Big Spring area," Barritt said. "I know Big Spring came in with a report of 7 inches.

"The highest amounts in our reporting area were Jayton and Silverton, both had six inches."

The Lubbock-based NWS office monitors 24 counties, from Friona to Childress, and from Denver City to Aspermont, Barritt said.

The high temperature today will be about 25 degrees with winds from the north between 10 and 20 mph, creating wind chills "around 5 degrees," Barritt said. "This afternoon, once we warm up some, the wind chill will run about 10 to 15 degrees."

Though LISD closed its campuses, Lubbock-Cooper, Frenship, New Deal, Shallowater and Slaton schools all reported that classes would begin two hours late. Roosevelt schools reported a one-hour delay for classes.

"We have less traffic out here and our superintendent just decided to make a go of it," said Janice Hennington, Roosevelt High School secretary.

All the school districts will excuse students who do not make it to class today, officials said.

Mark Earle, director of aviation for Lubbock International Airport, said that flights were arriving and departing "pretty much on time."

The runways remained open overnight and all airlines are operating "close to their schedules," Earle said. "However, if you're flying today, call your airline before you come because conditions are subject to change."

Delta flights are experiencing some delay, but "that has to do with ground equipment problems, not weather," Earle said.

The low temperature Wednesday night will be about 16 degrees with winds dropping off to between 5 and 10 mph, Barritt said.

"Tomorrow morning, skies should be clear, with temperatures rising to about 42 degrees," he said. "Once we get past today, it should return pretty much to normal, mild temperatures by Friday." Normal highs for this time of year are about 60 degrees, and normal lows are about 30, Barritt said.